With threeinjured players, two tough road games behind them and final exams approaching,Southern will have a small break in the season.
“On Wednesdaymorning we decided to give the guys four days off because we had been out ofschool for the last week and a half,” said Southern head coach Michael Grant.”We planned it (schedule) like that because I thought it’s important that wedidn’t lose anyone academically, and I haven’t loss anyone academically in all myyears of coaching.”
Grant said withhis team compromised of mostly juniors and seniors the break would not affectthem much when the games start back up.
After a twogame home win streak the Jaguars (2-2) were defeated 75-60 by Arkansas-LittleRock Nov. 30, in Little Rock, Ark., and also fell 82-63 to Cal-Berkeley inBerkeley, Calif. a week before the game in Arkansas.
“We had nineplayers that game (Ark.-Little Rock),” Grant said. “I really thought our guys didn’t play well the first half,but I thought we played well the second half but we ran out of gas when we cutthe lead to three with 10 minutes left to play.”
Southern’sjunior point guard Chris Alexander scored a game and season high 21points. Senior forward PeterCipriano recorded a game high 11 rebounds [eight defensive, three offensive],eight points and three blocks. Cipriano currently leads the Southwestern Athletic Conference in pointsper game with 22.3.
“It’s been verybeneficial to him because it gives him an opportunity to be the best player onour team,” Grant said.
The Universityof Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Tamarius Brown is second in the SWAC with 22 pointsper game.
Jag’s seniorforward Jarvis Vaughn also got in double digits with 13 points.
Arkansas-LittleRock (2-2) had three players to score in double digits. Brandon Freeman finished 6-of-11 for 14points, Richard Harman recorded 13 points and Darius Eason captured 12. As a team Arkansas-Little Rock had 11steals.
Jag’s veteransmall forward Nicholas Egland pulled a calf muscle in his right leg during gameplay and at practice a day before the game senior shooting guard NathanielNicholas twisted his left ankle. Senior small forward Deon Saunders is still out nursing a kneeinjury. Egland and Nicholas areexpected to return for the next game while Saunders will be out until SWACplay.
The next gamefor the Jaguars will be Dec. 11 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center againstSoutheastern (La.). Then the nextand final home game of the year will be Dec. 13 against Florida A&M. Gametime on both days is set at 7 p.m.
